ISRO successfully launches NVS-02 satellite; creates history with the 100th launch from Sriharikota

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday (January 29, 2025) morning launched its historic 100th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The GSLV-F15 with the NVS-02 satellite lifted off from the spaceport’s second launch pad at 6.23 a.m. and 19 minutes later the GSLV-F15 with indigenous cryogenic stage placed the NVS-02 satellite in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit as intended.

Also read: ISRO 100th mission LIVE updates

“I am extremely happy to announce from the spaceport of ISRO that the first launch of this year has been successfully accomplished with the GSLV-F15 precisely placing the NVS-02 satellite into the intended orbit. This mission is our 100th launch from here. This is a significant milestone for our space programme,” said ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan.

Dr. Narayanan who assumed charge of the space agency earlier this month added that over these 100 launches ISRO has lifted 548 satellites to orbit

“We have lifted a total of 120 tonnes of payload including 23 tonnes for 433 foreign satellites,” Dr. Narayanan added.

The NVS-02 is the second satellite in the NVS series, and part of India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC).

According to ISRO, NavIC is India’s independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) service to users in India and the region extending about 1,500 km beyond the Indian landmass, which is its primary service area.

NavIC provides two types of services: Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS). NavIC SPS provides a position accuracy of better than 20 metres (2σ) and timing accuracy of better than 40 nanoseconds (2σ) over the primary service area.

NavIC provides two types of services: Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS). NavIC SPS provides a position accuracy of better than 20 metres (2σ) and timing accuracy of better than 40 nanoseconds (2σ) over the primary service area.

Five second-generation NavIC satellites, NVS-01/02/03/04/05, are envisaged to augment the NavIC base layer constellation with enhanced features to ensure continuity of services. The NVS series of satellites incorporate L1 band signals to widen the services.

NVS-01, the first of the second-generation satellites, was launched on board GSLV-F12 on May 29, 2023. For the first time, an indigenous atomic clock was flown in NVS-01.

NVS-02, the second satellite in the NVS series, is configured with navigation payload in L1, L5 and S bands in addition to ranging payload in C-band like its predecessor-NVS-01. It will be placed at 111.75ºE, replacing IRNSS-1E. NVS-02 uses a combination of indigenous and procured atomic clocks for precise time estimation.

“The NavIC system is evolving as the backbone of indigenous satellite navigation ecosystem of the Indian region. The first batch of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) satellites launched in the previous decades has been successful in establishing the Personal Navigation Device (PND) services in the country, the NVS series is the second generation of these satellites that are progressively being deployed by the GSLV to augment NavIC constellation and further strengthening the PND ecosystem in the nation,” Dr. Narayanan said.

On the second indigenous atomic clock he said that this is a shining example of Make in India in critical technology development.

“Today many applications based on NavIC spanning from strategic uses, tracking of shipping vessels, time synchronization, train tracking and safety of alert life dissemination are accomplished,” he added.